سَقىmay water الصِباyouth وَاللَهوand pleasure عَهدُrenewed rain of الرَبابthe rainclouds
سَقى الصِبا وَاللَهو عَهدُ الرَباب
وَلاand may not عَداpass by الوَسمِيُّthe early autumn rain عَهدthe days of الرَبابRabab
وَلا عَدا الوَسمِيُّ عَهد الرَباب
May the rainclouds' renewed showers water youth and pleasure;
The youth and playfulness are gone, the days of the rebec are past
and may the early rain not pass Rabab's days by.
No longer does the lutanist play the rebec
وَلاand may not أَغبَّتmiss a visit to رَبعَهُits dwelling دِيمَةٌsteady rain
وَلا أَغبَّت رَبعَهُ دِيمَةٌ
مَجلوبةُbrought by المِرزمal-Mirzam ذاتُpossessing اِنصِبابa downpour
مَجلوبةُ المِرزم ذاتُ اِنصِباب
May steady rain never fail to visit its dwelling,
Nor does the beloved visit her abode
brought by al-Mirzam, pouring in torrents.
A camel caravan with tinkling bells arrives
حَيثُwhere الشَبابyouth الغَضُّtender نَوّارَةٌa blossom
حَيثُ الشَباب الغَضُّ نَوّارَةٌ
نَسيمُهاits breeze الخَفّاقُfluttering رَطبmoist المَهابin its blowing
نَسيمُها الخَفّاقُ رَطب المَهاب
Where tender youth was a blossom,
Where the fresh youth are in bloom
its fluttering breeze moist wherever it blew;
The gentle breeze makes the meadows lush
أَيّامin the days when رَوضيmy garden بِالمُنىwith hopes زاهِرٌblooming
أَيّام رَوضي بِالمُنى زاهِرٌ
وَربعُand the dwelling of لَهويَmy pleasure آهلٌinhabited بِالتَصَابwith youthful dalliance
وَربعُ لَهويَ آهلٌ بِالتَصَاب
in the days when my garden blossomed with hopes,
My garden days in bliss flourishing
and my playground was peopled with youthful dalliance;
My friends gathered in merriment
وَظَبيُand the gazelle of ذاكَthat السِربherd ليfor me مُنيَةٌa cherished desire
وَظَبيُ ذاكَ السِرب لي مُنيَةٌ
وَالدَهرُand time طَلقٌsmiling وَالمَغانيand the haunts رِحابspacious
وَالدَهرُ طَلقٌ وَالمَغاني رِحاب
when the gazelle of that herd was my desire,
That gazelle of the flock is my delight
and time smiled, and the haunts were spacious;
Time is free, and music fills the air
وَإِذand when غُصونُthe branches of الأُنسintimacy فَينانةٌluxuriantly spreading
وَإِذ غُصونُ الأُنس فَينانةٌ
قَدindeed جاذبتهاcontended with them for الوَصلunion أَيديthe hands of العِتابreproach
قَد جاذبتها الوَصل أَيدي العِتاب
and when the branches of intimacy spread luxuriantly,
When the branches of intimacy beckoned
the hands of reproach contended with them for union.
Pulled by the hands of blame and reproof
وَالحُبُّand love يُزهىflourishes بَينَamid رَيحانَةٍsweet basil
وَالحُبُّ يُزهى بَينَ رَيحانَةٍ
يانِعةٍlush تُسقىis watered بِماءwith the water of الشَبابyouth
يانِعةٍ تُسقى بِماء الشَباب
And love flourished amid sweet basil,
Love adorns itself amidst the blossoms
lush and watered with the water of youth.
A lush garden watered by the stream of youth
كَأَنَّهاas though it were وَالبِشرُand gladness بادٍapparent بِهاupon it
كَأَنَّها وَالبِشرُ بادٍ بِها
غُرَّةُthe radiant brow of شَمسِShams الدينِal-Din ساميlofty in الجَنابstation
غُرَّةُ شَمسِ الدينِ سامي الجَناب
As though it, with gladness shining upon it,
As if it and the tidings were a rising sun
were the radiant brow of Shams al-Din, lofty in station.
Whose radiance has a lofty essence
مولىًa lord عَلاsurpassed بِالمَجدِthrough glory هامَthe summits of العُلاeminence
مولىً عَلا بِالمَجدِ هامَ العُلا
فَاقتَعدَand so he sat astride الجَوزاءal-Jawza أَعلىthe loftiest of هِضابheights
فَاقتَعدَ الجَوزاء أَعلى هِضاب
A lord who, through glory, surpassed the summits of eminence,
A master who rose with glory ambitious
and sat astride al-Jawza, the loftiest of heights.
Settled on the highest of summits
أَخلاقُهُhis virtues الزُهرradiant حكينresembled الرُبىthe hills
أَخلاقُهُ الزُهر حكين الرُبى
حُسناًin beauty وَأَزرينَand put to shame بِغُرِّthe brightest of السَحابthe clouds
حُسناً وَأَزرينَ بِغُرِّ السَحاب
His radiant virtues resembled the hills
His nature is flowers, wise, chaste
in beauty, and put the brightest clouds to shame.
Beautiful, and as green as the clouds
ماnever وَجَّهَhe directed الفِكرَthought إِلىtoward مَطلَبٍa goal
ما وَجَّهَ الفِكرَ إِلى مَطلَبٍ
إِلّاexcept that أَتىhe came فيهِin it بِأَمرٍwith something عُجابmarvelous
إِلّا أَتى فيهِ بِأَمرٍ عُجاب
He never turned his thought toward a goal
Whenever his mind turned to a goal
without achieving something marvelous in it,
He accomplished it in an amazing way
بِهِمّةٍwith resolve كَاللَّيثِlike a lion عِندَwhen اِنسِيابadvancing
بِهِمّةٍ كَاللَّيثِ عِندَ اِنسِياب
وَراحَةٍand a palm كَالغَيثlike rain عِندَwhen اِنسِكابpouring down
وَراحَةٍ كَالغَيث عِندَ اِنسِكاب
with resolve like a lion advancing,
With courage like a lion in attack
and a palm like rain pouring down.
And calm like rain in its downpour
إِذاwhen مَشَتmoved فيacross الطِرسthe page أَقلامُهُhis pens
إِذا مَشَت في الطِرس أَقلامُهُ
أَهوِنhow paltry بِفعلis the work of السُمرِthe brown spears ذاتِhaving الكِعابjoints
أَهوِن بِفعل السُمرِ ذاتِ الكِعاب
When his pens move across the page,
When his fingers held the reed pens
how paltry the work of jointed brown spears!
More deft than the wrists of writing girls
وَإِنand if جَرىhe raced وَالخَصمand the opponent فيin حَلبةٍan arena
وَإِن جَرى وَالخَصم في حَلبةٍ
وَوجّهتand were presented تِلكَthose القَضاياcases الصِعابdifficult
وَوجّهت تِلكَ القَضايا الصِعاب
And if he races an opponent in an arena,
If an argument occurred in court
and those difficult cases are presented,
And those complex issues posed difficulties
أَتىhe brings مِنَof الحُكمِjudgment بِفَصلِwith decisive الخِطابspeech
أَتى مِنَ الحُكمِ بِفَصلِ الخِطاب
فيهاin them وَحازَand won الخَصمُthe opponent غُنمَthe gain of الإِيابreturn
فيها وَحازَ الخَصمُ غُنمَ الإِياب
he delivers the decisive word of judgment
He would resolve the case with his judgment
in them, while his opponent wins the prize of homecoming.
And the opponent would gain the spoils
ياO فاضِلاًexcellent man سُؤددهُhis nobility باهِرٌdazzling
يا فاضِلاً سُؤددهُ باهِرٌ
وَفَضلُهُand his merit بادٍplain بِغَيرِwithout اِحتِجابconcealment
وَفَضلُهُ بادٍ بِغَيرِ اِحتِجاب
O excellent man, whose nobility dazzles,
O noble sir, your excellence is brilliant
whose merit is plain, without concealment:
Your virtue manifest, unveiled
أَنتَyou فَتىthe champion of الآدابِletters فيin عَصرِناour age
أَنتَ فَتى الآدابِ في عَصرِنا
وَفيكَand toward you لاnot عَنكَaway from you تُنَصُّare urged on الرِكابthe riding-camels
وَفيكَ لا عَنكَ تُنَصُّ الرِكاب
you are the champion of letters in our age,
You are the exemplar of literature in our time
and toward you, not away, the riding-camels are urged.
And through you, the path is made clear
رُضتyou tamed لَناfor us شُوسthe unruly القَوافيrhymes وَقَدalthough indeed
رُضت لَنا شُوس القَوافي وَقَد
كانَتthey were عَلىfor مَنwhoever يَمتَطيهاrides them صِعابhard to master
كانَت عَلى مَن يَمتَطيها صِعاب
You tamed unruly rhymes for us, though
You have tamed the wild steeds of meter and rhyme
they had been unyielding to whoever mounted them.
Which were too difficult for any rider before
فَلَمso we did not نَجِدfind قافِيَةًa rhyme أُحكِمَتfinely wrought
فَلَم نَجِد قافِيَةً أُحكِمَت
إِلاexcept لَهاit has نَحوtoward ذُراكyour lofty heights اِنتِسابkinship
إِلا لَها نَحو ذُراك اِنتِساب
We have found no finely wrought rhyme
We found no rhyme scheme perfectly wrought
but claims kinship with your lofty heights.
Except through your guidance it was properly derived
إِلَيكَto you وَجَّهتُI directed بِهاwith it مُلغزاًposing a riddle
إِلَيكَ وَجَّهتُ بِها مُلغزاً
وَقَدand indeed أَتَتit came مِنout of خَجلshyness فيin اِنتِقابveiling
وَقَد أَتَت مِن خَجل في اِنتِقاب
To you I have sent it, posing a riddle,
I have composed a riddle for you
and it has come veiled out of shyness:
Though timidly it comes asking
فيabout اِسمٍa name ثلاثِيٍّof three letters يُرىis seen سامياًaloft
في اِسمٍ ثلاثِيٍّ يُرى سامياً
يُهدىis guided بِهِby it الساريthe night-traveler سَبيلَto the path of الصَوابrightness
يُهدى بِهِ الساري سَبيلَ الصَواب
about a three-letter name seen aloft,
A triliteral name which appears lofty
by which the night-traveler is guided to the right path.
Guide the inquirer to the path of right
يَرعاهُwatches it طرفيmy eye بِالدَياجيin the dark nights كَماjust as
يَرعاهُ طرفي بِالدَياجي كَما
يَرعاهُgrazes on it طرفيmy steed بِثَناياamong the bends of الشِعابthe ravines
يَرعاهُ طرفي بِثَنايا الشِعاب
My eye watches it through the dark nights, just as
My eyes watch over it as they do
my steed grazes on it among the bends of ravines.
Over the winding valleys’ clefts
مَقلوبُهُits reversal ياO صاحِfriend ماthat which يُتَّقىprotection is sought
مَقلوبُهُ يا صاحِ ما يُتَّقى
بِهِwith it مِنَfrom الأَعداءenemies وُقِّيتmay you be spared المَصابcalamity
بِهِ مِنَ الأَعداء وُقِّيت المَصاب
Its reversal, my friend, is what protects one
Its reverse, O my friend, protects
from enemies—may you be spared calamity.
Against enemies, fending off harm
ماضيهِits past-tense form فِعلٌa verb إِنif تَزُلis removed عَينُهُits middle root letter
ماضيهِ فِعلٌ إِن تَزُل عَينُهُ
فَذَلِكَthen that اِسمٌis a name لجنىًfor fruit مُستَطابdelectable
فَذَلِكَ اِسمٌ لجنىً مُستَطاب
Its past-tense form is a verb; if its middle letter is removed,
If its first root’s eye should slip
then it is a name for delectable fruit.
That is a name for a fine yield
حَكىit mirrored سَجاياكَyour qualities واقِعاًcorresponding لَهاto them
حَكى سَجاياكَ واقِعاً لَها
وَمِنand among سَجاياthe traits of المَرءِa person ماwhat يُستَطابis found sweet
وَمِن سَجايا المَرءِ ما يُستَطاب
It mirrors your qualities, matching them,
It portrays your traits in reality
and some of a person's qualities are found sweet.
And one’s traits, the fine are lauded
أَوضِحclarify لَناfor us مَعناهits meaning مَنّاًas a favor وَجُدand be generous
أَوضِح لَنا مَعناه مَنّاً وَجُد
بِحلِّهin unraveling it أَثناءَthe folds of رُودٍa tender maiden كِعابnubile
بِحلِّه أَثناءَ رُودٍ كِعاب
Explain its meaning to us as a favor, and be generous
Clarify its meaning as a boon when
in unraveling this tender, nubile maiden's folds.
Called amidst the dens at evening
لاnot زِلتَmay you cease تَسمُوto rise الدَهرَforever فيin نِعمَةٍblessing
لا زِلتَ تَسمُو الدَهرَ في نِعمَةٍ
مَضروبَةَfirmly driven الأَوتادِthe tent-stakes حَيثُwhere القِبابthe pavilions
مَضروبَةَ الأَوتادِ حَيثُ القِباب
May you rise forever in blessing,
You continue to ascend time in bliss
its tent-stakes firmly driven where the pavilions stand,
Where the tents are pitched with lofty ceilings
ماas long as وَشَّعadorns الطِرسthe page أَديبٌa man of letters وَماand as long as
ما وَشَّع الطِرس أَديبٌ وَما
وَشَّحَتِadorn الأَقلامُthe pens يَوماًever كِتابa book
وَشَّحَتِ الأَقلامُ يَوماً كِتاب
as long as a man of letters adorns a page, and as long as
No writer has adorned his pages nor
pens ever embellish a book,
Have pens one day inscribed a book
وَلَعلَعand sings out الحاديthe camel-driver بِسَلعٍat Salʿ وَماand as long as
وَلَعلَع الحادي بِسَلعٍ وَما
شُبِّبَlove verse is sung فيin الحَيِّthe encampment بِصَوتto the sound of الرَبابthe rabab
شُبِّبَ في الحَيِّ بِصَوت الرَباب
and the camel-driver sings out at Salʿ, and as long as
Nor has the chanter sung his wares
love verse is sung in the camp to the sound of the rabab.
Nor has the rebec sounded in the quarters
Sol 6.1